Activities of Bronis ROPĖ related to 2020/0100(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism
Amendments (23)
Amendment 5 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199 , drawing its roadmap towards a new growth policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the objective to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 20540 in an effective and fair manner, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challenge while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 6 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal Investment Plan10 on 14 January 2020, establishing the Just Transition Mechanism which focuses on the regions, people and sectors that are most affected by the transition given their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, peat and oil shale or greenhouse gas-intensive industrial processes but have less capacity to finance the necessary investments. The Just Transition Mechanism consists of three pillars: a Just Transition Fund implemented under shared management, a dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU, and a public sector loan facility to mobilise additional investments to the regions concerned. _________________ 10 COM(2020) 21 final.
Amendment 7 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The proposal for establishing the Just Transition Fund was adopted by the Commission on 14 January 202011 . For the better programming and implementation of the Fund, territorial just transition plans are to be adopted, setting out the key steps and timeline of the transition process towards reaching the 2030 climate targets of the Union as referred to in Article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challenges. The partnership principle applies for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the territorial just transition plans as referred to in Article [7] of Regulation [JTF Regulation]. _________________ 11 COM(2020) 22 final
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism and should ensure synergies.
Amendment 14 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) Horizontal principles as set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union ('TEU') and in Article 10 of the TFEU, including principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the TEU should be respected in the implementation of the Facility, taking into account the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Member States should also respect the obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure accessibility in line with its article 9 and in accordance with the Union law harmonising accessibility requirements for products and services. Member States and the Commission should aim at eliminating inequalities and at promoting equality between men and women and integrating the gender perspective, as well as at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The Facility should not support actions that contribute to any form of segregation or exclusion, or support infrastructure which is inaccessible to persons with a disability. The objectives of the Facility should be pursued in the framework of sustainable development and the Union's promotion of the aim of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment as set out in Article 11 and Article 191(1) of the TFEU, taking into account the polluter pays principle and the commitments agreed under the Paris Agreement. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market, operations benefitting undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU.
Amendment 17 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards the achievement of the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate, and a climate neutral economy by 2040, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover smart energy and transport infrastructure,systems, grids and storage at local level, decarbonisation of the transport sector, high efficient district heating networks, greezero-carbon mobility, smart waste management in accordance with the waste hierarchy, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination while keeping with the polluter-pays principle, as well as up- and re-skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. Such investments should be sustainable and should not increase nor maintain dependency on fossil fuels. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities mayshould be used.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. The needs of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR] should be taken into account. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and, following a needs-based and regional convergence approachpproach and promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific eligibility conditions and award criteria should be set out in the work programme and the call for proposals. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the overall objective of promoting regioneconomic, social and territorial convergencehesion, the criteria for determining environmentally sustainable investment as established by [Regulation on establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment] and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project. Union Support established by this Regulation should thus only be made available to Member States with at least one territorial just transition plan adopted. The work programme and calls for proposals will also take into account the territorial just transition plans submitted by Member States to ensure that coherence and consistency across the different pillars of the mechanism is ensured.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the grant component of this Facility until 31 December 2024, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set out the available national allocations expressed as shares of the overall financial envelope of the Facility for each Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [the JTF Regulation]. The implementing powers should be conferred without comitology procedures given that the shares derive directly from the application of a pre- defined calculation methodology.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the achievement of the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate, and a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 20540.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. 'territorial just transition plan' means a plan established together with relevant local and regional authorities and stakeholders of the territory concerned in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and approved by the Commission;
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic and environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards the achievement of the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate, and a climate-neutral economy for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in keeping with the partnership principle in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation].
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The Facility shall have the specific objective of increasing public sector investments, which address the development needs of regions identified in the territorial just transition plans, by facilitating the financing of projects that do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues and would not be financed without the element of grant support from the Union budget. Special attention shall be placed on less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR].
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. An amount up to 2% of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit, information, communication, publicity and evaluation activities including corporate information and technology systems, as well as administrative expenditure and fees of the finance partners.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall place special attention on less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR] and take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional convergenceeconomic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and the application of a redistributive factor taking into account the need of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Only projects contributing directly to the objectives referred to in Article 3 and fulfilling all the conditions set out below shall be eligible for Union support under the Facility:
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy by 2040 and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) the projects are environmentally sustainable in accordance with the criteria established in [Regulation on establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment];
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the projects do not receivecomplement and have synergetic effects with support under any other Union programmes;
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The Facility shall not support investment related to the production, processing, distribution, transport, storage or combustion of fossil fuels.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The amount of the grant shall not exceed 15% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner under this Facility. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council with a GDP per capita not exceeding 75% of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation [new CPR], the amount of the grant shall not exceed 230% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the Facility, ensure transparency and public access to information concerning each and all the funded projects and their results. Financial resources allocated to the Facility shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Article 3.